Aero: Alyssa Davis – Costa Rica 2013 – Biodiversity
Aero: Alyssa Davis – Costa Rica 2013 – Biodiversity
Aero: Alyssa Davis – Costa Rica 2013 – Biodiversity
Costa Rica is home to some of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet! With 600 different species of Orchids in Monteverde alone, it’s no wonder Costa Rica has become a global leader in ecological conservation. Plastic, glass, and organic waste bins are very often displayed together, urging natives and tourists alike to respect the resplendent land. With almost 30% of its land protected under environmental laws, Costa Rica has embraced its stunningly breathtaking natural beauty as its biggest tourist attraction.
During our stay we ventured three hours into the mountains of Monteverde, the cloud forest, to see a biological reserve. We toured the hanging bridges and learned of the strangler ficus trees that squelch their host into nothingness by growing completely around it and cutting it off entirely from sun and nutrients. Then we climbed up through the tree, where the host used to be. We took a night walk and learned of all kinds of nocturnal animals, such as the tarantula, which our tour guide so kindly poked with a stick, causing the animal to jump and consequently scare my vocal chords to silence. Hikes, trails, aerial trams, and zip lining tours are very common in Monteverde and the surrounding rainforest. If you ever get the chance to go to Costa Rica, I would recommend spending as much time in the rainforest and cloud forest as humanly possible. Then, hit the beach.
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La Playa, a place where time gets lost in the currents of the ocean, worry dries in the heat of the sun, and the ecstasy of pure relaxation comes to you in the form of rolling waves. The warm pools of water left washed ashore by the change of the tide come as a relief from the contact of the hot sand on the soles of your feet. Traveler beware: the tide change is fast and can drown a lone beach towel within minutes if left unattended. I nearly lost a thousand photos and a fairly new camera due to overexcitement, cartwheels, and a bit of neglect! Fortunately, shade is plentiful beneath the palms and hammocks are all too common in Costa Rica. Once you tire of the waves, the sun, and the sand it’s easy enough to head back to the tree line and kick back in a hammock or a beach chair.
Even at the beach, the weather in Costa Rica never varies more than 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Ever. In their coldest months Ticos can experience night time chills as low as 60 degrees, while day time sunshine steadily beats down at around 85-90 degrees. Even in the hottest months the sun doesn’t bake the earth at more than 100 degrees! This being said, the pH of the soil is generally measured around 5.5, which is just slightly acidic on the pH scale. Many volcanoes, active and dormant, exist in the area and have provided rich volcanic soil which hosts almost any type of flora with ease.
Unfortunately, I simply cannot recount all of the wonderful things I’ve learned about Costa Rica on a single webpage. The best way to understand just how incredibly diverse the little country is, would be to go experience the paradise for yourself!
– Alyssa Davis
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